Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-10-26
THE FEDERATION OF LABOR.
Sixty Trades Unions and Six Hundred
Thousand Membcrs-Thc Call for the
Second Convention 70 be held I'm De
Cember.

From tie New York Sun.
President Samuel Gompers and the executive
council OF the American Federation OF Labor send
from their headquarters, 332 East Sth street. In
this city, call for convention, which will be one
OF the most important for organized labor ever
held They say In the call "that the first conven-
ton Of the American Federation OF Labor was held
In Columbus Ohio, in December, 1885, when
twenty five national and International trades
unions and central trades assemblies, represented
by forty-two delegates, with membership OF
316, Ago, resolved TO protect the young but
rapidly developing labor movement OF America
against the INSCRIPTIONS Vaccinations OF EN-
ployers and pretended labor reforIners:
that while the membership OF the federation has
largely increased, Its moral influence has increased
greatest labor organisms Of the world. II is our,
and should be your, purpose to make it the great
est. To accomplish this, 1t Is necessary to have
the cooperation OF all the national and inter-
national trade unions, State assemblies or feder-
atoms, local trade assemblies or central labor
unions, in fact all organizations of labor based
upon trades union principles. You are therefore
called upon to Immediately elect Delegates in
order that your organization may be worthfy rep
resented at the next annual convention OF the
American Federation OF Labor, which will be held
In Baltimore, Md, Tuesday, December 13, 1887"
The American Federation OF Labor Is an organi-
cation or real working men, comprising about
100000 men belonging to about sixty trades
unions all over the United States. The president,
Sam1 GomperS, gives the following succinct ac-
count OF the objects OF the organization: "Ftrst.
to form, assist or encourage in the formation of
national or International trades unions. Second,
10 form, assist or encourage in the formation OF
local trades unions and as speedily as possible
tach them 10 the national or International union
OF their trade. Third, TO encourage the formation
or central labor unions, trades councils In each
city, town or State Fourth, to encourage the for
nation OF labor unions OF wage-workerS who have
no national union. Fifth to secure and maintain
home rule the absolute right OF each union whether
national International, or local, to regulate the
AFFAIRS OF their own trade In conflict or in peace
independent Of and uninterrered with by any so
called superior officers OF organizations not con-
nected with that trade. While recognizing this
principle OF autonomy and independent, yet when
any affiliated organization is engaged in any diffi-
Guilty 10 maintain its rights or TO improve the
ditiOn OF its members, the power and aid financial
and moral, OF all other afiliatC1 organizations is
pledged. Sixth, to secure to the toiling masses
high wages, a reduction in the hours OF labor, and
TO assist them generally to improve their condition
economically, politically and socially. seventh in
endeavOring TO accomplish these objects the
American Federation OF Labor does not seek to
gor1y Itself or its officers, but rather inStil into
The minds or the members OF affiliated OrganiZa-
lions spirit OF the strength of democracy as
against the tyranny and ultimate weakness OF
authority begOtten OF autOcracy."